heart-stopping moment a black bear approaches a group of hikers

Aug 16, 2026 2:47 AM

TheCoolDad

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24635

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591

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19

You only have to be faster than your slower friend.

2 weeks ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

2 weeks ago | Likes 17 Dislikes 0

Black: fight back.
Brown: lie down.
White: good night.

2 weeks ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Koala: use a glove.

2 weeks ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Honestly, if it has gotten this close, you might as well give it scritches.

2 weeks ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 1

Can I pet dat dawwg?

2 weeks ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

The bear is tagged and in a known hiking area? Odds are it is used to people in some way.

2 weeks ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 3

Good thing it wasn't a brown bear.

2 weeks ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 1

Yeah, you need specialized training to deal with those. https://imgur.com/DegswDq.mp4

2 weeks ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

Ahh, a throwback to the early days of internet. A simpler, more wholesome time.

2 weeks ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Bad time to have been using that fruit scented shampoo...

2 weeks ago | Likes 43 Dislikes 1

Honey, its good for your hair!

2 weeks ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Pants shidded

2 weeks ago | Likes 20 Dislikes 5

Pet it

2 weeks ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 1

What kind of shampoo does she use?

2 weeks ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

Manuka honey smooth cream suave. Maybe a choice to rethink.

2 weeks ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

If it’s black, fight back. If it’s brown, lay down. If it’s white…good night.

2 weeks ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

You chose the bear!

2 weeks ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 4

The survival instincts of a potato. Those three coming together raising hands and shouting would have scared it off. A grizzly bear would just eat one slowly while others hit it. I always carried bear mace is bear country for this exact reason. Tourists can buy it too.

2 weeks ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Jesus Christ. How the fuck are you going to let a bear get so close to you that it can bite your leg? And it's a black bear! Growing up, my aunt had a little Jack Russell Terrier that chased one out of my mom's yard one time.

If you don't know how to handle interactions with wild animals, just don't leave the city. You don't need to be out in the wild. That's not your world, and that's okay.

2 weeks ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 12

Jfc, the survival instincts of a bar of soap.

2 weeks ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Are they fucking CRAZY? WHO THE FUCK IS FILMING THIS AND DOING NOTHING ?

2 weeks ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Black bear, brown pants.

2 weeks ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

My wife and I were having lunch at a picnic table in a park in the Blue Ridge in Virginia when a black bear approached, took a seat on the other side of the table, and proceeded to eat our sandwiches. Then it left.

2 weeks ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

You smell like herbal essence but you don’t feel like it.

2 weeks ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

if not food, why food shaped ?

2 weeks ago | Likes 45 Dislikes 1

People probably feed them and do theyre looking for handouts.e

1 week ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

This is an Asian black bear. They are different from the American version. They are a little smaller for one thing.

2 weeks ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 2

Asian / Asiatic / Moon bears are stockier and fluffier. I don't know where this was filmed, but that looks very much like an American black bear.

2 weeks ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

I see you are right. This took place in Mexico.

2 weeks ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Is this the same technique you would use for a black bear in the US? I’m happy it turned out well for them, but dang…

2 weeks ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 0

I used to yell and throw ice cubes at the one that would try to get into my trash cans when I lived in bear country. It always ran away.

2 weeks ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

If it's brown, fall down, if it's black, fight back, if red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow, if red touches black, fight back, if it's yellow, let it mellow, and if it's brown, flush it down.

2 weeks ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

Black bears in the US should be scared off. Make yourself big, Yell, Etc. Contrary to what you might believe, black bear are more dangerous than brown bears in some ways. Brown bear attacks are typically territorial, so you play dead to show that you are not a threat. Black bear attacks tend to be the black bear predating on people, so you need to fight. They are roughly the same weight as an adult and you don't need to "win", just establish that you are a meal not worth having.

2 weeks ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 1

Excellent advice. Just one exception: A sow that thinks she's defending her cubs will stop at nothing to tiddly-wink your skull into outer space. If you get charged and you see cubs nearby, find your inner Bruce Lee and go full Fists of Fury

2 weeks ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

I assumed they meant with brown bears.

2 weeks ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Depends on the circumstances, but no matter, these ladies are doing it wrong. For a curious juvenile like this, stand tall, make noise, do not turn your back. Back him down with noise and posture.

2 weeks ago | Likes 22 Dislikes 0

We have passed over some evolutionary line to where it is now inborn. That woman is being pushed around on the plate by a wild bear and she is STILL DICKING WITH HER PHONE! I saw some recent earthquake videos that were beyond any comprehension - people standing close in front of crumbling office buildings looking up and videoing the concrete falling toward them. A tourist plane crashing into the sea and more than one passenger videoed the whole thing. "Oh, I'm about to die. I'll video it." Wow!

2 weeks ago | Likes 33 Dislikes 11

She's avoiding eye contact, not facing, standing but not resisting, moving slowly - she's very clearly mimicking what she has seen from high profile nature documentarians popular through the 90s and 2000's.

What is the likelihood she has been schooled on bear encounters outside tv? It's not a formal response, but to call it mindless is very off the mark.

She is making intentional choices that she thinks will result in a peaceful and educational encounter, and she draws on obvious precedent.

2 weeks ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Its honestly better to find out someone was eaten by a bear in footage then to just have a missing persons case. The mind can come up with MUCH worse scenarios they can torment themselves with. Family ties and friendships can be broken over unjustified suspicions and anger.

2 weeks ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

I get it's frustrating seeing people be catastrophically distracted and negligent, but what were the plane passengers supposed to do exactly? Flap their arms?

2 weeks ago | Likes 36 Dislikes 0

Plot twist, the plane was crashing because someone didnt pt their phone on airplane mode!

2 weeks ago | Likes 20 Dislikes 1

Hey baby, I heard you prefer me. -bear probably

2 weeks ago | Likes 317 Dislikes 8

“Hey baby bear! You ever had yer asshole licked by a fat man in an overcoat!!?””

2 weeks ago | Likes 51 Dislikes 1

2 weeks ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

2 weeks ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 0

I just shit your pants.

2 weeks ago | Likes 158 Dislikes 1

we're even

1 week ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

2 weeks ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

AGAIN?! FFS!!!

2 weeks ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

you are so thoughtful!

2 weeks ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

2 weeks ago | Likes 21 Dislikes 0

Worst blind date ever.

2 weeks ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

JTHM. Good stuff.

1 week ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

So I was taught it depends on the species of bear how to behave. Black bear, raise your hands and look as big as possible, Grizzly role into a ball and pray. Any expert advice is welcome.

2 weeks ago | Likes 29 Dislikes 0

If it's black fight back, if it's brown lay down, if it's white GOOD NIGHT

2 weeks ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 0

I recommend a book called bear attacks: their causes and avoidance by Stephen herrero. It is the definitive book on the subject and you will learn some very interesting and important things like:

- yeah there's no rules

- they're not predictable

- when they are it's complex

- you can remember a little rhyme if you want it'll be a fun thing to rhyme to yourself while you're either not being eaten because they don't feel like it or being eaten because they feel like it

2 weeks ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Your comment is officially better than mine. I tip my hat. (And way better than half the replies of crazy people).

2 weeks ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Black, fight back. Brown, lie down. White, good night.

2 weeks ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

What I recall from my visit to the North American Bear Center - Black bears have an evolutionary "flight" response because they used to have natural predators. So anything scary big and loud from a distance is enough to send them running. You can see this in numerous videos of black bears being startled and running away during an unexpected encounter with a human. Grizzly and Polar bears - not so much. They are much more difficult to scare - especially the Polar variety.

2 weeks ago | Likes 22 Dislikes 0

Polar bear: lean forward so that it ends faster.

2 weeks ago | Likes 29 Dislikes 0

Black: fight back
Brown: lie down
White: good night

2 weeks ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

take of your cloth and throw it at it... distracts them.... and by the time it's not distracted you will have frozen to death insted..... much less painfull

2 weeks ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

If you're being chased and don't know what kind of bear it is, climb a tree. If it comes up after you, it's a black bear. If it knocks the tree over, it's a grizzly.

2 weeks ago | Likes 49 Dislikes 1

lmao

1 week ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

and if there are no trees, just ice, its a polar bear.

1 week ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Ok. I chuckled. Trying to view Imgur w/o waking the spouse. :)

2 weeks ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 0

All bears: get big and shout and try to intimidate while backing away slowly.

If that fails and you are getting mauled: play dead in a small ball

If you have the opportunity and it’s not a black bear: climb something.

2 weeks ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 9

Terrible advice. Im sorry. ^^
All bears can climb.
Black bear: Fight back if attacked. Don't play dead. Don't climb trees — they climb better than you. Grizzly: Back away slowly. If it charges, stand ground. If it makes contact, play dead face-down with legs spread (not curled in a ball). Climbing won't save you.

Polar bear: You are fucked. Run, Fight or die. They actually hunt even humans.

2 weeks ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 2

Seriously you baffle me. You are gonna claim the standard wisdom of black bears is terrible advice and then talk about fighting? And you would sooner play dead with your head and major arteries exposed when attacked by grizzly rather than climb on top of a car or tree if available? And why did you even mention polar bears? And I already said don’t climb to escape black bears…. Fact is it, your odds depend a lot more on the day that bear is having than what type it is or your specific actions.

2 weeks ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 6

I grew up in Colorado and saw bears every day and my advice to you is don't ever encounter a bear because no matter what advice is given to you, you'll be dying trying to figure out how to blame the advice. You're so wrong, I hope you live somewhere no bear has ever been and I hope that place also loses internet connection so you can stop telling people your insane theories about what to do when encountering a bear

2 weeks ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 2

Lmfao bruh I’ve lived in Colorado both in and out of the mountains my whole life, including working at a scout camp as a bear officer. I’ve done fine with my black bear encounters on several dozen occasions, and a grizzly only once out of state. If you saw them “every day” then I have to assume you are the idiot that is fucking up and leaving food and smellables improperly stored. Like seriously, are you baiting them???

2 weeks ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Polar bear: You are fucked. Run, Fight and die.

2 weeks ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Rupert can't climb, he's scared of heights, and it is a little mean to remind him of his weakness.

2 weeks ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

At least we agree on: don’t fight grizzlies or climb to escape black bears…

2 weeks ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Yep. Black bears are still a lot stronger than you, but easily scared and tend to run when hurt - if you kick em or punch em in the nose they often run.
Brown bears, including Grizzly bears of course, often charge at you but stop just short or run past you very closely. Stand your ground then. There is no use running anyway because they run faster than you. They also swim and climb faster than you. At any rate, you cannot win without spray or a gun.
Same goes for Polars except they don't fake.

2 weeks ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Black bears you can raise your hands up over your head clap and yell. I mean by the time theyre hugging your leg its too late to try that.

2 weeks ago | Likes 254 Dislikes 1

And group together, and sing. (bears don't like our voices, singing Oscar Meyer wiener is good, because we remember the words and can do it while in fear)

1 week ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

"Black bears you can raise your hands up over your head clap and yell"

Why are you giving the bears pointers??

2 weeks ago | Likes 27 Dislikes 1

Looks like its tracking food scent in their backpack. They doing the worse thing possible by standing still and being quiet. Talk to it and get louder. Appear bigger. Don't fold your hands across your chest. He could drag a paw down your leg which will result in 4 3" deep gashes.

2 weeks ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

I actually think it was smelling her hair, and like another commentor joked, it may well be ex. fruit-scented shampoo. She had no backpack on herself.

2 weeks ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Could be shampoo and conditioner. Hell, it could be deodorant or sunscreen. When backpacking in blackbear country, we couldn't wash our hair, brush our teeth, or use deodorant after 2pm. The bears have an excellent sense of smell.

2 weeks ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I have a colleague who grew up in the U P. and had this advice for when you are confronted by a black bear. "Open your arms wide, then box their ears as hard as you can. Slam your hands into the sides of their head with as much force as you can muster." So basically beat the shit out of the bear.

2 weeks ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 0

*Bitchslap

2 weeks ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I think my plant would require more stuff before they got within arms reach. But yeah that would probably work. Ive seen small dogs chase off black bears.

2 weeks ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

They’re essentially giant raccoons. They are just looking for trash and scare easily.

2 weeks ago | Likes 121 Dislikes 1

But they'll soon be back, and in greater numbers.

2 weeks ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

Yeah they do scare easy so I dont know about scaring them while they're actively holding on to you.

2 weeks ago | Likes 60 Dislikes 0

That entire party should have gotten loud as hell.

2 weeks ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 0

Some. A bunch more will attack humans in a predatory manner, eat, and kill them. There's a whole list of bear fatalities on wikipedia and black bears have plenty of kills. It's WILD to me how many people think they're relatively harmless. Less dangerous than brown bears? Sure. "Giant raccoons?" I guess a giant raccoon *would* kill you.

2 weeks ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

at least the giant raccoon would wash you before it at you ;)

2 weeks ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Uuuh I'm not sure a raccoon can do this : (not without a tool at least)

2 weeks ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 1

2 weeks ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Nah Raccoon would just lock pick the door and drive away to Trash-Town

2 weeks ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

Was hoping for the car to drive off, but ok

2 weeks ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

You too?

2 weeks ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Scary as f

2 weeks ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

No way

2 weeks ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

It takes 3 of them in a trench coat.

2 weeks ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Yeah raccoon can't do that without a tool but raccoons always have tools. They're the tweakers of the animal world. Look at a raccoon real close sometime. Look at their hands. If you think that thing doesn't have a gun I don't know what to tell you you're a lost cause

2 weeks ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Can a vehicle be repaired after such an invasion? Or is it totaled?

2 weeks ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

repaired, it's basically a new door

2 weeks ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

They probably could if they were giant raccoons roughly the size of a black bear.

2 weeks ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0